A YELVERTON resident has hit out at lack of action to tackle safety hazards in a narrow lane used by cars and heavy lorries as a short cut to the South Hams.

Gordon Carrick of Meavy Lane said there are two problems in the lane — rush hour commuters who use the route to get to and from Ivybridge and the A38, and numerous heavy quarry lorries.

Mr Carrick said residents in Meavy Lane have been frustrated at the lack of action to deal with the problem.

Mr Carrick said: 'Most people agree exactly what needs to happen — but it's not happening.

'We are still sitting here with big lorries thundering up and down the lane which just isn't wide enough for them.

'It's only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. We have a lot of mothers and children using the lane and a lot of old folks live here,' he said.

'I wouldn't like to see anyone get killed but there seems to be a lack of action.'

Mr Carrick said a public meeting held last October to discuss proposed highway improvements in Meavy Lane was very well attended by residents concerned about safety in the area.

But he was sceptical about the proposals by consultants, which included a 'priority section' in the lane.

He also doubted that 'virtual pavements' and speed limits would be heeded in the narrow, winding lane.

He said since October residents have heard no more about the scheme.

Mike Parnell, Devon County Council's local services officer, said the proposals suggested in October were earlier this year rejected by Dartmoor National Park Authority, in which Meavy Lane is situated.

He said: 'We had to go back to the drawing board. We've met with the national park authority on site, we've looked at some options for a scheme which we need to present to a working group of members from the partnership committee and the park authority.'

Mr Parnell said he hoped the working group would be able to discuss the proposals, which included a virtual footway at the top of Meavy Lane, in late August or early September.

There would be further consultation with residents on the new proposals, said Mr Parnell.

Cllr Madigan, who is also a member of West Devon's partnership committee, said she wrote an article for the parish magazine following the meeting in October.

Cllr Madigan said: 'What I've tried to do in Meavy Lane is learn from the mistakes of the rural gateway at Whitchurch and try to keep everybody informed and allow people to put in their own views.

'Unfortunately, Dartmoor National Park Authority finally decided they didn't like the plans and I wrote another article for the parish magazine to tell everyone.'

Cllr Madigan said the county had engaged 'highly qualified' engineers in drawing up the proposals, in order to get a 'high class scheme'. She said she had also pushed, unsuccessfully so far, for weight restrictions in Meavy Lane.

'I would like to see the lorries banned from there but it doesn't seem feasible, so we will have to get the best possible solution we can,' said Cllr Madigan.